UConn's Jerome Junior Returns After 'Bump In The Road'

Feels Glare Of Teammates Over Serving 1-Game Suspension

UConn junior safety Jerome Junior knows what that feels like after a one-game suspension resulted in the starter, veteran and team leader being left in Storrs while his team was on the field at Buffalo Saturday night.

"The first thing I want to do is clarify that it was not for a violation of any of the drug policies here," Junior said Tuesday during the team's weekly media availability session at the Burton Family Football Complex.

"I know guys have gotten in trouble for that, but it wasn't that. I had a little bump in the road last week, messing up; made a few mistakes and that's why I was in the position I was Saturday. A lot of guys came up to me and they were disappointed. … Some of the guys were mad.

"They were saying they were disappointed because they expect me to be a leader on the team and with last week, that's not setting a good example. I'm good with coach right now, but I basically got to take care of business."

McEntee Improving

Is junior Johnny McEntee the guy at quarterback based on his 12-of-21, 213-yard, two-touchdown performance against Buffalo? Yes … and no.

The coaches are impressed because his recognition of the defense is getting better. He did not throw an interception against Buffalo, a big step in his development.

"He's been getting a little bit better at it each week," UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni said. "The good news is that there's steady progress being made. We just hope he can keep going. Having said that, Mike [Nebrich] is getting better at it, too. Michael didn't do anything wrong in the game. The looks were so multiple and there was so much pressure that we just felt, let's let one guy decipher it, and we left Johnny in and he did a good job."

Offensive coordinator George DeLeone has been impressed with McEntee on the inside (heart) and upstairs (mind) throughout the process.

"Here's a kid who's a walk-on, never played, never did anything, just a walk-on kind of hanging around," DeLeone said. "All of a sudden he's the starting quarterback. Next thing you know, he has two tough outings [Vanderbilt, three interceptions and a fumble] and Iowa State [one interception and 17 incompletions for the second consecutive week].

"Now, the son of a gun could have shriveled up, taken his ball and gone home, but he worked his tail off in practice last week. I could see it in his eyes. It was different. He was focused and it resulted in a better outing. Whether he can start stringing a few of those together? To be continued, as they say. But that's what has to happen or else it's going to become more and more difficult to run this offense."

Hyppolite Returns

Pasqualoni said the Huskies are getting sophomore running back Martin Hyppolite back this week and linebacker Jerome Williams is working his way back. Both players, out with knee injuries sustained in the spring, were targeted for October returns.

"Martin has been cleared to start to really go, so we're going to get him involved in full force, full contact practice this week, and I want to see where he is," Pasqualoni said. "Jerome is back and in practice. He's limited. Today, I would put Jerome in the limited category; anxious to see how he handles [Tuesday's practice]."

Hyppolite should provide a boost to a unit that needs a boost. The Huskies have struggled on the ground. Williams was locked in as starter at middle linebacker before his injury. Redshirt freshman Yawin Smallwood, who is second on the team in tackles (32), has a 64-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown (at Vanderbilt) and a drive-killing interception in the end zone (Buffalo), has been outstanding in place of Williams. It should be interesting how this shakes out when Williams gets to 100 percent because junior Jory Johnson leads the team in tackles (34) and no one is replacing Sio Moore, fourth on the team with 21 hits.

Wilburn Ready For Start

Senior cornerback Gary Wilburn is ready for his start Saturday against Western Michigan. He'll replace junior Blidi Wreh-Wilson, out a couple of weeks with a sprained MCL.

"Just trying to take it day by day, treat the practice like games and just help the team win," Wilburn said.

Wilburn was burned on the lone big play the Bulls had, a 45-yard completion from Chazz Anderson to Alex Neutz.

"[UConn defensive coordinator Don Brown] told me I needed to get out earlier and don't slow down," Wilburn said. "[Neutz] gave me a little nod and I hesitated, but I should have just kept running. If I did, I would have been in perfect position to make the play. That's the one thing as a corner, you just have to move on. Once you get lit up out there on the island, just forget it and keep going. Don't let it affect you the whole game. That play is gone."